The invention provides peptide compositions and mixtures useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Ehrlichia antigens. The peptide compositions and mixtures comprise polypeptide sequences based on an immunogenic fragment of the Ehrlichia Outer Membrane Protein 1 (OMP-1) protein. The invention also provides devices, methods, and kits comprising such peptide compositions and mixtures useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Ehrlichia antigens and the diagnosis of monocytic and/or granulocytic ehrlichiosis.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum surface protein AipA and/or fragments thereof which comprise an invasin domain are used in compositions suitable to elicit an immune response to treat or prevent infections caused by tick-born bacteria of the Anaplasmatacaea family. AipA proteins and protein fragments or antibodies directed to AipA proteins and protein fragments are also used in diagnostic assays to detect exposure to and/or infection with Anaplasmatacaea. AipA and/or fragments thereof are also used for these purposes in combination with one or both of Asp14 and OmpA proteins and/or fragments thereof which comprise an invasin domain. Homologs of these proteins are also used in the compositions and assays.

In at least one illustrative embodiment, an electromagnetic filter may include a transfer pipe and multiple electromagnetic filter elements positioned in an interior volume of the pipe. Each electromagnetic filter element includes a support comb, a solenoid coupled to the support comb, and multiple magnetic members arranged in a planar array positioned within an opening of the support comb. Each magnetic member may rotate about an end that is coupled to the support comb. The magnetic members may be magnetostrictive sensors and may include a biorecognition element to bind with a target microorganism. A method for fluid filtration includes coupling the electromagnetic filter between a fluid source and a fluid destination, energizing the solenoids of each electromagnetic filter elements, and flowing a fluid media through the transfer pipe of the electromagnetic filter. The fluid media may be liquid food such as fruit juice. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

An apparatus (10) comprising: a light source (12); to cast light toward a substrate (20) defining a bacteria binding volume to create an evanescent field (22), the bacteria binding volume being within the evanescent field; a detector (32, 34) arranged to receive light from the bacteria binding volume and output data (36, 37); and a processor (38) arranged to determine vibration of bacteria (26) with the bacteria binding volume in three-dimensions from the data.

The present invention discloses a specific, rapid test differentiating microorganisms by trait, such as distinguishing gram positive and gram negative bacteria, in bodily fluids at point of care. This is achieved through a method of producing a polyclonal antibody targeted towards the particular trait of the microorganism to be tested for, as well as the polyclonal antibody produced by such a method. Also disclosed is a lateral flow point of care test device comprising such a polyclonal antibody, as well as a method of use of such a device.

Described are a therapeutic monoclonal antibody specific for the Type Six Secretion System (T6SS) needle protein of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) and methods of use. Specifically, the antibody specifically binds to hemolysin co-regulated protein (Hep). Further disclosed are methods of using an anti-Hep antibody for detecting A. baumannii in a sample as well as a mutant A. baumannii strain comprising a deletion or mutation in its genome such that said deletion or mutation interrupts the proper translation of its hep protein.

Systems and methods for determining pathogens and antimicrobial resistance of pathogens in a sample are provided.

Severe influenza is associated with defects in pulmonary innate immunity, a phenomenon leading to secondary bacterial infections. The gut microbiota can control immune/inflammatory responses locally and at distant sites. The inventors hypothesized that perturbation of the gut microbiota during severe influenza might participate in bacterial superinfection post-influenza. Their data demonstrated that influenza infection profoundly altered the functionality of the gut microbiota as assessed by the altered production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Remarkably, treatment of colonized (IAV microbiota) mice or IAV-infected mice with acetate, the main SCFA found systematically, reinforced host defenses against S. pneumoniae. The present invention thus relates to the use of short-chain fatty acids for the treatment of bacterial superinfections post-influenza.

Assays, arrays, and methods for distinguishing a bacterial infection from a viral infection are disclosed. The antibiotic crisis is in part driven by over prescription of antibiotics. There is a tendency, particular in pediatrics, to give an antibiotic even for viral infections. Thus, embodiments herein are directed to the problem of distinguishing a bacterial infection from a viral infection to reduce unnecessary antibiotic usage.

A method for rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing by tracking sub-micron scale motion of single bacterial cells including obtaining a biological sample from a subject including live bacteria. Different doses of antibiotic are added to a multi-well glass slide and adding portions of the biological sample to the wells. Bacterial cells are tethered onto the surface. The tethered bacterial cells are imaged and tracked. Bacterial sub-micron motion of tethered cells is measured at the different doses. A processor performs statistical analysis on a population of cells for each antibiotic dose to generate an antibiotic dose curve proportional to the motion changes, where the antibiotic dose curve plots data including a decrease in movement over time indicating a proportional effectiveness of an antibiotic applied to a well.